The story of King Arthur and the Round Table has been around for a long time. And, as such, there are many takes on the legend – some simply straightforwardly recount the story of a once and future king who was both a great warrior and a good man. But others eagerly explore other, less frequently centered characters, such as Guinevere or Nimue, the Lady of the Lake, and reimagine new ways of telling this tale that’s almost as old as time.

Tracey Deonn’s debut novel Legendborn falls firmly in the latter category, relocating the King Arthur myth to America and re-centering it around a young Black girl desperate to figure out who she is. And it’s honestly wonderful: Full of rich interior world-building, a fresh and complicated take on the Round Table, and a perspective that’s been missing for far too long from this particular literary lane – all mixed with a unique dash of Southern history.

Full review: https://culturess.com/2020/09/16/legendborn-review/

<em>To be able to trace one's family back that far is something I have never fathomed. My family only knows back to the generation after Emancipation.</em>

It is truly impossible to look at Tracy Deonn's <em>Legendborn</em> in a way that does not elucidate race and generational trauma in an incredibly unique way. The depths to which this story demonstrates these concepts it masterful in its own right. There is so much nuance to this fantastic retelling of Arthurian lore that you can't help leaving it impressed. And I would wager that this is probably the most important story I will read all year.

<b>The Story You Think You Know</b>

I've always <em>loved</em> Arthurian tales. There is something utterly captivating about the boy king, his gallant knights of the round table, and the wizard who advised him. And while <em>Legendborn</em> is certainly a story based around this story, it is in no way what you expect it to be. This is both a brilliant...and an unfortunate thing.

I would <em>love</em> nothing more than to say that I adored every single piece of this book. And truthfully, there's really only one thing I didn't care for. In every single other way, this book was basically perfect. Sure, there was a half-baked almost love-triangle, but given the source material, I'm actually fine with it.

What bugged me, though, was the twist at the end. The all at once speed with which it happened was one thing. What's worse, is I feel horribly conflicted over my distaste for it to the point that I'm still giving this book five stars despite finding it irritating. You see, were this twist not entrenched in the deeper commentaries of the book, I would have hated it. It is only the nuanced acuity of the treatise that made this twist brilliant.

This is a chosen one-eqsue narrative that needed to be precisely that. I guess a part of me is just kind of sick of them.

<b>Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table</b>

I've always been weary over the years whenever magic beyond Merlin's, specifically, is involved in tales of Arthur. When I first picked up <em>Legendborn</em> I was excited but skeptical. I can be choosy when it comes to certain retellings and Arthurian fall into that realm for me. Fortunately, Deonn's take on these brave knights and their king was <em>brilliant</em>. It was unique to the point of falling in love, but not so vastly out there that it irks you. I can <em>easily</em> set aside my preconceived notions and love for this story and adopt the world that Deonn has created.

Basically, Arthur and his knights fought demons. To ensure they could continue their battle through the years, Merlin--who is part demon which accounts for his ability to use magic without the assistance of spirits--casts a spell that allows the spirits of Arthur and his knights to reside in and lend power to their decedents. There are a lot of rules for this and equivalent exchange-type limitations. One cannot have great power without giving up something in return.

And it's amazing. Despite being <em>vastly</em> different from the tale you may know and expect, Deonn melds these world ideas expertly. Never once did I find myself really questioning how these pieces could join together. Root magic was a little more difficult for me to merge with Arthurian legend at first. The connection was a bit harder to grasp, but ultimately still makes for an excellent story.

<b>Diversity</b>

In a weird way, <em>Legendborn</em> is not as diverse as you kind of expect it to be. At least, not in the <em>way</em> you expect it to be. I was, at times, shocked by this. But I think the message Deonn is trying to send--and send it she does--would not have worked out nearly as well had there been more black folk main characters. Now bear with me, I'm going to dive into this a bit.

As far as <em>central</em> characters go, Bree is pretty much the only black character. There are some side characters of course. Namely, Bree's father, her ancestors, a therapist, and a young college student. Then there are the waitstaff at that gala later on, but let's come back to this. Then you have Bree's best friend Alice Chen (Taiwanese-American) and Sarah, a half-Venezuelan Squire who is pretty white-passing. And that's pretty much <em>it</em>.

This book is set in the South on a campus that is apparently basically <em>filled</em> with white people. Thus the majority of characters, including both love interests, are white. And when I say both, please note that one of the love interests is <em>barely</em> that.

Back to diversity, where we see the bulk of it is in the LGBTQ characters. There's the wonderful William, who is gay. Then you have Sel and Tor who are both bi. Sarah and Alice who, to my understanding, are both lesbians. And there's Greer, who is non-binary.

<b>The True Shining Star</b>

<u>Inherited, Generational Trauma</u>

At the end of the day, the most essential and significant piece to Deonn's <em>Legendborn</em> is the blackness commentary. Deonn goes much further than simply discussing the surface level pieces that exist within discussions about race. One of the most captivating pieces deals with generational trauma that spans largely from the treatment black people have suffered since the very moment their ancestors first set foot in this country. There's a visceral pain to the knowledge that one's history is rooted in slavery and how that has eroded their ability to <em>know</em> that history.

This is a concept that I'm fairly new to. I've only recently learned about the impact that not knowing your family's history or who your ancestors were can have. If I wanted, I could probably trace my familial ancestors back generations. This isn't always the case for black Americans. More often than not, this isn't something they can do. Their history has been lost along the path of the suffering their ancestors went through.

Well, you feel that through Bree. And it's heart-wrenching in every possible way.

<u>Racism</u>

Bree's experience with The Order of the Round Table is dripping in microaggressions. These come from both well-meaning characters and the clear bullies of the story. There are hints of the scars police brutality has left on black Americans, commentaries surrounding gate-keeping, and many, <em>many</em> parallels to classism and slavery. The question of Bree's worth as an individual is brought up more times than I could count. Some of it is subtle while other bits are overt.

And it's all interconnected. Race plays a huge part, obviously. But so does classism, existing in where an elite established by generations of slavery, racism, and gate-keeping expect their positions to keep the status quo. These people feel threatened, as though their lives are being infringed upon by the smallest of changes they are expected to make as the world attempts to balance out what has always been unequal privilege.

Remember how I mentioned that there was this gala moment in which all the waitstaff were black? This was an incredibly striking moment in the novel and, like many of the moments of racism that Bree faced, met with her disdain. It's incredibly telling that this moment is included, meant to make us uncomfortable. And yet it shines light on something important, that the "elite" majority will often do what they can to hold the status they deem theirs and use class structures to hold down those they don't consider worthy.

<b>And So Much More</b>

I cannot truly account for <em>everything</em> that was brilliant about this novel. I loved the characters immensely. In a great many ways <em>everyone, </em>with perhaps <em>one</em> exception, was brilliant. They were so easy to fall in love with. I also greatly appreciated all the subtle inclusions about the black experience that, wonderfully, will allow for more readers to relate to Bree and also provide small opportunities for growth in those who do not know.

At the end of the day, there's one thing that I feel an immense need to say about Tracy Deonn's <em>Legendborn</em>:

<strong>We need more books like this.</strong>

<em>I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</em>

This was a fantasy that truly stood out among the other releases this year. Who else is doing Knights of the Round Table meets Southern Gothic Black Girl Magic?

Bree Matthew's is still grieving her mother's death and getting accepted into UNC Chapel Hill's early college program seems like the distraction she needs. But was her mother's death actually an accident? Bree ends up stumbling upon a secret Arthurian society that may have the answer she seeks. After a strange encounter at a party. Bree enlists help from reluctant Legendborn Nick.

I really liked that this was set on a college campus. Especially since this story is set in a somewhat realistic version of our world it provided a way for Bree to sneak out every night without being under her father's watchful eye. There aren't enough YA stories set in college that allow for more freedom.

There is a romance with a love triangle brewing at the surface and some insta-love. I wasn't really feeling the one relationship so I hope it doesn't go in that direction.

All in all this fantasy tale felt unique in a see of other fantasies and the fast pace made it easy to get through.
I received an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Read more at
https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot.com/2020/09/legendborn-by-tracy-deonn.html

*This review is based on an uncorrected proof copy provided by the publisher.*

4.75/5 stars

Bree, a Black teenager in small-town North Carolina, is reeling after the loss of her mother, who died in a tragic car accident. In spite of her loss, or perhaps because of it, she decides to go through with her plan to attend the Early College program at UNC Chapel Hill, which allows high school students to live at and enroll in the college. There, amidst her grief, Bree experiences magic (for the second time in her life) and discovers a secret society. Arthur and his knights were real, and their legend lives on in their descendants and devotees to the Round Table. When Bree realizes there may be more to her mother's death than a cruel twist of fate, she decides to infiltrate the society and find out what this magic really means. Along the way, she finds both solace and mystery in her heritage and ancestry, which may hold the key to the new powers she is manifesting.

Debut author Tracy Deonn has produced a book about pain, grief, magic, and legend. The new take on the King Arthur mythos, which has been mined in literature for centuries, takes readers on a journey through history, ancestry, belonging, and exclusion. Deonn asks important questions, such as who has been able to be part of the Arthurian legends? Who has been excluded, and why? Can an organization that operates exclusively on family connections, heritage, and birthright truly be a force for good? What would that organization do when someone disrupts their status quo?

The Legendborn operate around the descendants of Arthur and his knights. These descendants, called Scions, work with other devotees of the lines whose families have served for hundreds of years. They use aether, a magical substance drawn from life and energy, to defend the world of humans against evil forces that manifest as demonic creatures. The Legendborn are incredibly insular, as are most secret societies, and they operate with extreme amounts of power and money in regular societies. Much like an oversized fraternity or Skull and Bones society, the Order has influence in nearly all industries and interests. As with most exclusive societies, the Legendborn operate within a white, cis-centric mentality.

Bree, the main character, is nothing if not a disruptive force. Her identity as a Black woman is outside the realm of what the Legendborn have ever included in their ranks. She and a non-binary character named Greer are the only two inductees of the Legendborn to challenge the typical Southern sensibilities of the society. Bree struggles with the emotional labor it takes to exist in an organization, and a world, that was not built to accept people like her. This struggle is paired with the UNC campus, which has a long and ugly history with slavery, the lionization of enslavers such as Julian Carr, and the inability to create safe spaces for people of color.

While we get a lot of Bree's insular life and go through her trauma with her, we are given an extremely interesting, active plot that propels the story along at a fast pace. The Legendborn's younger class is populated with complex characters who all have their own relationship to their lineage, history, and place in the society. Nick, Arthur's descendant, is Bree's guide to the world of the Legendborn and her love interest. He is a reluctant golden boy returning to his inheritance with a large chip on his shoulder. On the other side, Selwyn Kane is a "Merlin," one of the Legendborn's powerful sorcerers. He is charged to protect Nick and the rest of the UNC chapter from the monstrous creatures that emerge from campus Gates. Sel is immediately suspicious of Bree and believes she may just be the very evil he has been sworn to fight.

All the action scenes are written snappily and bring the reader along as if they are watching a scene unfold on screen. The magic is described well, and we discover more about its rules and uses as Bree does, which gives the discovery an organic feel. The only drawback, at least in the proof copy, was not having a glossary of the Welsh terms that the Legendborn use to classify monsters, magic, and lineages. Some of the terms are easy to catch on to, but I did feel like sometimes Bree was suddenly familiar with a term when it had never been explained to her. Otherwise, the action was easy to follow and continued at a breathless pace.

Deonn's writing is painful, realistic, and evocative. I often found myself putting the book down and digesting what I read, how I felt, and how Bree felt. As a white person, this book challenged me to step outside myself and see how a Black person views the world around them. I myself am a graduate of UNC, and it was both difficult and educational to see the campus through Bree's eyes. I am grateful for the beauty of this book, but I am also grateful for its raw reality and the way it exposes our society's flaws. I can only imagine the emotional toll this book must have exacted from Deonn, but I am immensely glad the book was written.

This book is perfect for YA fantasy lovers, fans of Arthurian lore, and anyone looking for, as the blurb says, some Southern Black Girl Magic. Bree is a strong, brave girl who examines her trauma, knows her worth, and seeks to attain what she knows she deserves. I cannot wait until the sequel is released, but I am thrilled to recommend this to anyone who will listen.

Since her mother’s death, Bree has become After-Bree. After-Bree doesn’t want the same things as before, but her life has already been set in motion and it’s a train that can’t be stopped. After sneaking out on Chapel Hill’s campus during her Early College program, Bree gets a lot more than she bargained for. Suddenly magic exists, demons are real, and there’s a secret order of Arthur’s Roundtable keeping Onceborns (humans) across the country safe. Looking for The Order’s connection to her mother’s death has thrust Bree into a world she wasn’t prepared for and she just may have to break just to survive.

WHEW! This book was a ride. I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t sure at first because Bree was so frustrating and narrowsighted, but Tracy created a King Arthur retelling for a Black girls that we NEEDED! This book made me experience anger, frustration, sadness and triumph. Not only does this weave a tale of King Arthur but it turns it on its head with the history of Black Americans and our ancestry. The magical elements were amazing and there was so much mystery to uncover about Bree’s heritage & her mom’s death, as well as wth is going on in Chapel Hill. We also get Non-binary rep, an angsty bisexual king, and sapphic rep as well. The racism that exists in these old white secret societies? Yep that’s addressed. Magical fights to the death? Yep. A twist that I may have seen coming but still had me on the edge of my seat?? YEP!

Listen, the point is, it’s worth the read.

The writing in this book is phenomenal. I highlighted so many quotes and passages on my Kindle. The author's explanations of how Bree is dealing with her grief are incredibly poignant, and I appreciated that she allows the character to express the frustration and exhaustion that deals with managing other people's feelings when you are dealing with grief.

I loved that there was more than one magic system at play here and I really appreciated the Author's Note at the end that explained the origin of one of those systems. I also know from experience that the descriptions of UNC's campus are spot-on. Deonn really conveys a great sense of setting without getting bogged down in those descriptions.

What I would like to change:
I felt like things get a little muddled towards the very end of the book. I was missing a little bit in the way of explanations after the big battle. I also felt that there was a portion of the book at the end that dealt with a possession where the spirit of the person was weaved in and out of the narrative at will. That felt a little at odds with how the procedure was initially described by the person who was possessed. It just seemed like a convenience for the narrative that needed a little more development.

I AM IN AWE. THAT WAS INCREDIBLE.

Like, not gonna lie, the first few chapters everything was a little touch and go for me. It was a bit muddled, confusing, but I sticked with it because I have seen so many good reviews on this book I felt like there was something that I was missing. I am so glad I stuck it out, because this might just be one of my favorite Legend of King Arthur retellings in the history of the world. I never even compared it with my other favorite retelling, Merlin (BBC show). It is just unique, a breath of fresh air with tiny hints of Mortal Instruments/Soul Screamers to give it that nice starting point.

But it is so much more than Mortal Instruments. It is an urban fantasy series set in our time (no pandemic), in a college setting (Bree is a high school girl in the Early College track because she is freaking smart), that actually incorporates some difficult to address topics such as slavery, economical inequality, blatant racism, the difficulties of living in a world that wants to forget the struggles of the black community while our protagonist Bree is continuously being confronted by the echoes of what what done to her ancestors. It is done in a way that is just organic, which in a fantasy setting is kind of unheard of, dealing with this in a real way that is like OUR world and not a make believe world. It is just very well done and I loved it.

BREE! I love Bree. She is smart, daring, committed, won't put up with your BS racism and will check her friends if necessary. She loses her mother, and throughout the book we are dealing with this, while also adding to her pain when she realizes that generations of women in her family have died relatively young. She goes on a journey to both try to find out why her mother died (she suspects foul play; someone tried to take her memories away from that night, not realizing that she was immune) and discover why she has the powers she has. She meets Nick because her racist principal decides she has an "attitude" problem and needs guidance. Nick is an all around Rich American Boy who managed to grab Bree's attention (and mine) within just a few pages with his devil may care smile and teasing. I instantly shipped them, and in the next book I suspect we will get a WHOLE TON of character development from the Nick department (can't wait). Nick helps Bree infiltrate the Round Table secret society, and together they work to find out what exactly happened to Bree's mother.

There is definitely a love triangle going on as well; but I won't mention names because it is spoilery. And, well, this is a legit love triangle where I can see it going either way. The author develops both love interests with such fine details it is HARD to choose, though I may have a favorite...I bought stocks on both ships.

*shrugs*

There is so much to Legendborn. Fantastic representation for LGBTQ+ that does not feel forced in the least. Rich black community magic system. Smooth writing that makes you flip page after page with no care as to how long you stay up reading (the book is 500+ pages and I am totally okay with this). On some parts there is unavoidable info dumping, but there is a lot of material to go through so it is necessary, and to Tracy Deonn's credit she makes it painless. THAT ENDING. UUUUUUUUF. You are not ready for this. I was not ready for it (I had my suspicions, and I was partly right but still surprised).

I CANNOT wait for the sequel! Like, top 5 most anticipated books for 2021. BRING IT!

<i>PS; I was provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review. Thanks go to the publisher! </i>

"Legendborn" is one of my favorite reads of 2020. I don't even like to pick favorites for anything. It just showed up and said, "Hey, I'm going to be one of your favorites."

Bree is a fantastic main character and narrator. I love how she goes through life unapologetically, even when she doesn't feel like herself. The worldbuilding was phenomenal, combining to create a multilayered playground for both the plot and Bree to grow. From the start, Deonn's writing pulled me in so I had no choice but to be invested in everything going on. She packs a punch with her debut, and handles it like a pro. This will appeal to fans of fantasy, myths and lore, contemporary, and especially to fans of Leigh Bardugo's "Ninth House" or Netflix's "The Order." I had major entertainment hangovers after each of these stories, and "Legendborn" is no different. I already want to reread it!

Being a high school overachiever often seems like the only way to guarantee the college-bound future that many young people strive for. So imagine Bree’s surprise when her own mother negatively reacts to Bree’s acceptance into the Early College program at the University of North Carolina, her mother’s alma mater. Even more tragically, before the mother and daughter can recover from the major argument that this news presents, Bree’s mother is the victim of a fatal car accident. Reeling from this profound loss, Bree goes forward with the Early College program in hopes of distracting herself into productivity and possibly finding connection to her mother by partaking in similar campus experiences.

As Legendborn progresses, we see Bree’s journey through grief go through the universally acknowledged five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. During Bree’s denial stage, which lasts through much of the book, she gets involved with a mysterious group who she learns may be involved with her mother’s death. Believing that the clues that she’s gathered will help her to find the reason behind it all, Bree pushes Nick, a cute guy that happens to mean a lot to the secret society she needs entry into, to aid her secret cause.

However, Nick’s help getting her in doesn’t mean success for her mission. First, based on the rules of this Order, new people like herself are only allowed one area of entry — which means competition with people who have been bred to serve this system since they were born. Second, there are mysterious awakenings of terrifying demon creatures that risk the secrecy of the Order and the deaths of their members and non-members alike. Third, Bree finds herself falling for Nick, a mutual desire that is discouraged by the majority of the Order, including powerful and attractive mage, Selwyn, who places plenty of barriers around Bree’s success.

With the Order somehow becoming the most and the least of Bree’s concerns, she must also contend with her failing relationship with best friend and Early College enrollee, Alice, persuade her father that she’s doing well despite some initial missteps, and go through therapy that also introduces her to a part of her mother’s legacy that she had no idea existed.

Throughout it all, we see Bree’s lingering anger towards: the racism directed at her and those she interacts with; her mother for leaving without providing her insight about her magical abilities that have recently appeared; and those obscuring the truth about what happened to her mother. The bargaining and depression stages leave Bree some of the clarity that she seeks, but are not nearly as satisfying as she’d hoped for in her journey towards truth. It is in the final act of the book that we see her simultaneously gain knowledge that leads her to understand who she truly is and accept not only her mother’s untimely death but what it means for who she’s become after this unbearable event.

I would be remiss not to note the ode to Arthurian legend that leads the fantastic core of this universe but cannot share much about it here without providing spoilers. What I can share is that the legendary aspects of this old mythos was shrewdly chosen by Legendborn author Tracy Deonn to both challenge and accentuate the importance of maintaining tradition and legacy, especially in a setting like the American South where both of these concepts drive a great deal of culture and society — for better and worse. In remaining true to the feel and rhythm of Southern life, while also shining a light on the Black experience in this region with a fantasy set up, Legendborn serves as an intriguing first entry in what looks to be a series as windy and undeterred as the curls in Bree’s hair.

LEGENDBORN is a brilliant, genre-subverting YA sure to change the fantasy genre forever. Tracy Deonn has taken Arthurian legend and turned it on its head. With a strong cast of characters, led by MC Bree, LEGENDBORN subverts tropes, while still paying homage to them. As Bree mourns her mother's death, she finds herself with a magical gift, one that places her right in the middle of a (very white) secret society of what she'll soon learn are descendants of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Bree is a fierce, powerful main character, with a sharp voice that immediately inspires devotion in the reader. Deonn also manages to create a truly impossible love triangle, with no clear winner. This is an incredible start to a series that readers will be sure to obsess over.

Such an amazing book! I enjoyed every moment of it, all the twists and turns and everything! Cannot wait to see where this series goes. I've loved a lot of recent Arthurian retellings, and this is no exception. I will definitely highly recommend to anyone looking for this kind of retelling, or even if they like fairy tale retellings.

Thank you for the chance to read the e-ARC!

After the death of her mother, Bree is determined to leave the small town of Bentonville, NC. She gets accepted into early college at UNC-Chapel Hill and it seems like she’s found the perfect get away. Things changed when Bree witnesses a supernatural attack that only she can see. She then discovers a secret society of descendants of King Author who she believes can help her uncover the truth behind her mothers death.

This book pulled me in from the beginning. I immediately became invested in the authors amazing writing, characters, world building and exciting storyline. I really loved Bree. She is determined, strong-willed and resilient. I admired the way she didn’t let her issues deter her from accomplishing her goals. I definitely related to her when it came to the grief and the guilt that comes with losing your mother. Can we get an Amen for the diversity and Black Girl Magic in this book? I absolutely loved reading about Bree’s silk scarves and hair care routines. It felt good to see Black hair respected and represented.

The author touched on the racism and Bree faced at school and dealing with the police. She also talks about sexism and how the women of Legendborn are sabotaged. Overall, this book was a journey filled with mystery, magic and ancestry. I didn’t want to put it down and the next day I had the red eyes to prove it. Don’t take my word for it, check it out

Overall I loved this book. It was a fantasy dark academia vibe that I adored and I cannot wait to read the sequel. It reminded me a bit of the Netflix shows ARES and THE ORDER, but with it's own original spin as well. The characters were great, and the historical context was amazing. This was an incredibly powerful fantasy.

One thing I did not love about this book though, was the lack of clarity regarding the characters ages. It seemed almost like everyone had originally been a college student, and at the last minute the MC's age was driven down and the high school program was included so that the MC could be 16. It is unclear what age the other characters are, although they all seem to be college students, which at times was awkward and uncomfortable. Also, at a few different points in the story the MC states how her mom and grandmother both "also" lost their moms at age 18... Which led me to once again think that the MC was supposed to be 18, but was aged down for whatever reason. I checked in with a few other people who have also read the book, and it seems I am not alone in being confused about the characters ages. There also seems to be no actual plot-driven advantage to making the MC 16 years old or part of a high school program.

I will clarify that I read the arc, and perhaps there will be changes made prior to the finished copy being released.

Legendborn is stunning and if you like ya fantasy at all you. must. read. this. Yes, it's that good and is one of my favorite novels of 2020!

The comparisons to Cassandra Clare are very accurate--this is a fast, hold on to your seats read that sucks you in and leave you (or at least me!) wanting more now! Great writing, great characters, especially Bree, the mc, and great plot. Like, twist after twist and done right and superbly! Legendborn is outstanding, one of my favorite books of 2020 and is very highly recommended.

This is an incredible book that I will highly recommend to all of my teen readers (and adults, for that matter). Tracy Deonn is a masterful contemporary fantasy author. This book shines with worldbuilding but still feels so perfectly contemporary despite all the legend and lore in a perfect balance of fantasy and contemporary romance and relationship-building. The exploration of grief, trauma, racism, and other complex topics will be so important to teen readers, but so will the the lightness and joy of a perfectly written teen romance. I adored this book and can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Imma just come out and say it: this book was STUNNING! A book centered around Arthurian legends starring a Black girl is everything I never knew I needed! There was so much that struck me on a personal level, even though I didn’t grow up in the South or, ya know, have to fight demons on the regular. So, as I go through my review, I wanted to also share 15 thoughts I had while I was reading the book. Starting with:

The look at the effects of grief is raw, painful, and real.

The book starts out with our main character, Bree Matthews, learning that her mother has died in a car accident. This event is pivotal in not only Bree’s life, but the story as we continue. But what struck me the most was how much it made me hurt. I am blessed to have not dealt with the death of an immediate family member so far in my 37 years of living. But reading about Bree’s pain, her anger, her turmoil… I felt it like it was my own. That is a testament to Tracy Deonn’s writing. That she could make me feel and understand Bree’s grief on Bree’s terms shows a depth in character creation and storytelling that blows my mind!

Speaking of Bree, she is an incredible main character!

She’s strong and smart. She’s stubborn and flawed. She’s dealing with so many things that a young girl of sixteen shouldn’t have to deal with and it’s amazing to watch her develop and grow. The way she processes her grief, the way she fights to understand her abilities… everything about Bree is so carefully crafted and well-developed that you can’t help but root for her! I don’t tend to like a book where the characters feel flat and one-dimensional. Thankfully, the characters of Legendborn are anything but that!

I see my teenage-self in Bree.

Bree is part of an program where she starts attending college at the early age of sixteen. While I entered college in the traditional sense, I was only seventeen when I started, so I instantly felt a connection. A strong connection with the characters of a story always makes me love it more! And then I read this quote:

“If we could get into EC, we could leave Bentonville High and move to a university dorm two hours away from home – and away from parents who held us so tight that sometimes we couldn’t breathe.

And, God, did I feel that! I went to a college about an hour and half from where my parents lived at the time for that exact reason! Looking back, my parents were not nearly as overbearing and suffocating that I thought them to be, but try and tell teenage-Kerri that. I loved how much I could connect with Bree, even as a woman in her late thirties.

You can tell when white people haven’t met/talked to a lot of Black folx…

Another aspect of this book that really resonated with me is the look at microaggressions against Black people and, more specifically, Black women. Bree finds herself embedded in an organization where she is one of maybe two POC and most definitely the only Black girl. But, even before that, she has to deal with interactions with mostly white people that made me cringe. There’s an instant where a character makes a comment about Bree’s hair and her reaction was spot on.

“I cringe because his tone is the one that feels less like a compliment and more likes he’s happened upon a fun oddity – and that fun oddity is Black me with my Black hair.”

It’s interactions like these that make you wonder if you are the first Black person the commenter has made an attempt to talk to. Or, even worse, when they touch your hair without permission. Ugh.

Tracy Deonn really captures the feeling of being the only Black person in a predominately white space.

I grew up in the military, so I’ve lived a lot of different places with a lot of different cultures. One thing that was a constant, though, was that my family tended to live in the suburbs and the schools I tended to go to were predominately white. My brother and I were often two of only a very few Black kids. So reading about Bree navigating her way through a place like the Order of the Round Table brought back a looooot of memories. The feelings of having to just “deal with” some pretty racist remarks. The way people assumed you were there as some sort of minority check-mark and not because you earned it. The feeling of having to be twice as good as everyone else to prove you belonged. It’s all dealt with in an earnest and honest way throughout Legendborn.

Nick is awesome…

Oh, Nicholas. If I were to liken the characters to animals, Nick would be a literal Golden Retriever. He’s so earnest and sweet and good!! Once Bree is well and truly embroiled with the Order, all he wants to do is protect her and, though Bree is a badass who don’t need no man, it is so sweet to watch their relationship develop. Beyond his interactions with Bree, though, Nick is such an interesting character! He has a lot going on and a lot of layers that we just get a peek into in this first book. I’m definitely intrigued by where his development might take him.

…but Selwyn is my favorite and no one can change my mind!

If Nick is a Golden Retriever, Selwyn is that feral black cat you adopted that you think hates you, but will jump on your lap for an exact amount of chin scratches every once in awhile. I love Selwyn! I mean, yeah, at first I thought he was an entire asshole, but he most definitely grew on me throughout the book. So we now have three main characters whom I really adore… it’s no wonder I, with my character-focused self, loved this book so much!

Vaughn can catch these hands 🤬

That’s not to say I loved all the characters. There were definitely a few I wanted to jump into the book and fight on the regular. But that is yet another testament to Tracy Deonn’s writing! When I’m invested enough to want to fight a fictional character, you know you’ve got me hooked!

I love the nods to Arthurian legends!

One of the main reasons I wanted to read this book is because of the King Arthur aspect. I love Arthurian legends! I even took an entire course dedicated to it when I was in college. So when we get little details like people in the Order associated with the descendants of the knight Gawain having bright green handkerchiefs, my heart was happy. Arthurian legends are so convoluted (there are just so many) but I think Tracy did an amazing job weaving them into her story.

I also love the mystery weaved throughout this book.

As soon as Bree works her way into the Order, you can tell that something is not right. Demon attacks are on the rise, there’s tension among the members, and something just feels… off. I loved trying to figure out where the story was going alongside Bree. I love a good secret and this book has PLENTY! Speaking of secrets and mysteries…

The magic in this world is incredible!

The world-building around the magic and the lore is, perhaps, my second favorite thing about this book! (First being the characters, obvs) I think the author does an incredible job of developing her magic system and how everything works. I like how, even though there are established rules, there’s still some intrigue about how things work that we have to puzzle out (see my last point… I love a good mystery). It’s interesting, and it ties into the real world so well that it makes it both fantastical and believable.

The little nods to the power of Black women are just… *chef’s kiss*

There is a point where Bree is meeting with an older Black woman and she thinks…

“I can’t tell how old she is, of course, because Black women are magical like that. She could be forty or sixty, or some number in between.”

And, like… I felt that ❤ This book is filled with magic in the literal sense, but I loved the nods to Black Girl Magic that are interspersed throughout.

This book legit made me laugh out loud 😂

Bree has such a wry sense of humor that I was absolutely okay with spending the entire book inside her head. There were multiple moments where her thoughts had me snort-laughing! And not only were her thoughts amusing, but there were various interactions that had me vastly amused, as well. I do enjoy a book that connects with my sense of humor and this hit the nail on the head!

This book also made me feel the bone-deep weariness of an unexpected Wash Day.

Look. Black hair is beautiful, but it is a temperamental mistress. A planned for Wash Day is an event that can quite literally take all day. But when Bree had to deal with an unexpected Wash Day on top of all the other drama in her life? I felt that in my soul.

That ending, though… 🤯

ASKDMEKRNFD, THAT ENDING!!! I can say for certain that I did not see it coming but I am so glad it ended like it did! I do love when a book surprise me and that definitely happened here. And it was executed in such brilliant fashion, too! I cannot wait until the next book is in my greedy, little hands because I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!

Final thoughts/#Ownvoices reflection: What can I say other than this book blew my mind? There was so much about Bree’s story that made me feel incredibly seen. There were uncomfortable, if familiar things. The way she feels she has to shrink herself to navigate white spaces. The way she is constantly fighting just to be seen as an equal. The many microaggressions she has to deal with on a regular basis. But there were also beautiful things. Her pride in her wonderful, natural curls. Her relationship with her father that made me think of my own dad. And the kinship she finds when interacting with some Black women she meets during this story. I felt represented in this story entrenched in Arthurian legends in a way I have rarely felt in the most contemporary of stories. I grew up loving fantasy novels but always resigning myself to the fact that people who looked like me were either absent, evil, or side characters. It makes me unbelievably happy to know that my children and the generations after them won’t have to grow up in that same world. They will be able to pick up a book like Legendborn and see themselves, front and center.

And they will have a damn good time while reading it, too! This book has everything I could want in a great fantasy: compelling characters, interesting magic system, and excellent world-building. If you’re looking for a fast-paced story where secrets abound and trials await, I think you would love Legendborn!

Tracy Deonn has the skill to transport you to a world of magical realism. She’s a wordsmith with imagery and spares no details. It truly helps the reader immerse themselves in the story.

It's been awhile since I've enjoyed a book from the start, but Legendborn starts fast and manages to hold that pace throughout the story. The action doesn't fester and build in a frustrating way. Instead, you immediately get thrown into the confusion alongside Bree. You can't help but root for her, even when she seems to be making uninformed decisions.

I was surprised to find myself interested in the lore and its connections to King Arthur. I've never read or watched anything to do with the story, but that did not stop me from enjoying this modern take.

I will definitely be keeping my eyes on this author and the rest of this series. Highly recommend.

Mourning her mother who was killed in a mysterious hit and run accident, Bree enrolls in a UNC-Chapel Hill program for high achieving high school students. She vows to uncover the secrets surround her mother's death and joins an ancient secret society based on Arthurian legend, not knowing that she will soon be caught up in powerful old magic and a fight to prevent the dark forces of the Shadowborn from destroying the world as she knows it and the people she loves.

Beautifully crafted, with rich world building, dynamic characters, and tense, edge of your seat plotting, the author manages to increase its depth with more than good versus evil tropes, weaving themes of race, class, gender, courage, loyalty, and friendship. This one is a standout

Summary
After Bree's mother dies in a sudden car accident, she needs to escape her grief and childhood home. So Bree heads off to UNC-Chapel Hill with her best friend as an Early College student. But one her first night there, she witnesses a magical attack - a flying demon who feeds on human energy.
Suddenly Bree is wrapped up in a society of demons, magic, and Arthurian descendants. And she needs to decide how far she'll go for the truths she desperate to uncover.

Overview
➸ POV: 1st Person from Bree's POV

➸ Bree Matthews: 16, Black, Early College College student at UNC, Mother recently passed away in car accident, Best friend to Alice, Grieving

➸ Alice Chen: 16, Taiwanese-American, Bree's best friend and roommate, Early College student at UNC, Queer (not labeled), Cautious

➸ Selwyn Kane: 18, White, Gold eyes, Merlin, Kingsmage, Mysterious & temperamental

➸ Nick Davis: 17, White, 2nd year Early College student, Bree's mentor, Charming, (view spoiler)

➸ Content Warnings: Death of a parent, Car crash, Grief, Police encounters, Racism, Murder, Blood/Gore/Fighting, Memory loss & manipulation, Sexism, Slavery

My Thoughts
Wow! This is an action packed, powerful, YA fantasy that I completely fell in love with.

This book wasted no time diving right into the action! But 11% I was already on the edge of my seat, completely invested in discovering more about this world.

I loved how the author was able to weave the world building throughout the story since we are learning about this complex world and magic system right along with the main character. There is SO MUCH to this world, it could easily have become overwhelming. But Tracy Deonn gave little pieces throughout the book rather than dumping everything on at once, so I never once felt lost, confused, or overwhelmed.

The characters in here were absolutely fantastic. Every character was layered and flawed and complex. Bree was one of the MCs that so many people will be able to connect with. I loved her journey of learning to handle her grief and discover who she wanted to be. Her friendship with Alice was so strong, despite some rocky times. I also loved Bree's relationship with both Sel & Nick. The 2 male MCs are so different from one another but I loved them both equally.

In general, this book did an amazing job with character arcs and growth. The side characters - Will, Bree's father, Patricia, Alice etc, were all so fantastic and really brought this story to life. I love when I can connect with a supporting character just as much as the MCs!

This story was so unique in the way it took a popular legend like Arthur and gave it a modern day spin. The themes that Tracy Deonn wove through this story and legend completely blew me away. This definitely can get heavy at times, so please be aware that this deals heavily with racism and slavery in the south. But despite those heavy topics and gut-wrenching scenes, Deonn created a story of power. In her author note at the end of the book she says -

"Athuriana is an opportunity for us to reorient ourselves to the stories we preserver - and rediscover who gets to be legendary."


Overall I completely devoured this book and will be thinking about this YA fantasy long after putting it down. If this book isn't on your radar - add it right now! From amazing characters to complex world and magical systems, political intrigue to powerful themes, this story has it all. I desperately need the sequel to this!!